Headline News

17, March 2026

Yaoundé: Hon. Theodore Datoua is new Speaker of the National Assembly ⁰

The election of Hon. Theodore Datoua as new Speaker of the National Assembly offers more than a ceremonial changing of the guard in Yaoundé the nation’s capital. Frankly speaking, the electoral process in the national assembly presents a moment to reflect on the health of Cameroon’s so-called democratic establishments and the expectations Cameroonians rightly hold of them.

The office of Speaker of the National Assembly in Cameroon is not merely administrative. To be sure, Cameroon’s National Assembly Speaker is a custodian of parliamentary integrity, a referee of debate, and a bridge between the government and the governed.

In Cameroon’s political climate where trust in institutions is in very short supply, the National Assembly Speaker’s role becomes even more consequential. The tone set in parliamentary sessions—whether one of openness or opacity, rigor or routine—will ripple outward into public life.

Today’s transition from the 86 year-old Cavaye Djibril to Theodore Datoua comes at a time when Cameroonians are seeking renewed confidence in governance. Economic and political pressures, tribal and social tensions, and calls for genuine dialogue have underscored the need for a national assembly that is not only functional, but responsive. Hon. Theodore Datoua now has an opportunity to strengthen parliamentary oversight, encourage meaningful debate, and ensure that diverse voices particularly the Anglophones are not just heard, but taken seriously.

Today’s election in Yaoundé signals continuity and intent. Will Theodore Datoua’s tenure prioritize transparency? Will parliamentary proceedings become more bilingual and more accessible to ordinary citizens? Will legislative scrutiny of executive action grow sharper and more consistent? These are not abstract questions—they go to the heart of democratic accountability.

No speaker acts alone. The effectiveness of the Cameroon National Assembly depends on the collective will of its members. Yet leadership shapes culture. If Hon. Datoua commits to fairness, procedural discipline, and institutional independence, he and his new team will elevate the entire chamber.

Welcoming a new Speaker, then, should not be an exercise in routine optimism, but in measured expectation. The office carries both prestige and responsibility. If used well, it can help reinforce democratic norms and restore faith in public institutions. If not, it risks deepening cynicism.

Cameroon stands, as many nations do, at a crossroads between continuity and change. The National Assembly—and its new Speaker—now have a chance to show that representative governance can rise to meet the moment. The country will be watching.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

17, March 2026

Iran launches 58th wave of retaliatory strikes using precision, heavy missiles ⁰

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched its massive 58th wave of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israeli positions and United States military bases.

The massive barrage, conducted in the framework of “Operation True Promise 4,” was initiated in the morning, said the force in a statement.

This highly successful, “effect-based operation” was explicitly dedicated to “all the martyred children of the Ramadan War,” noted the statement.

The military statement emphasized that the strike specifically honors the victims of the “Minab school” massacare and the youngest casualty of the ongoing conflict, a three-day-old infant named “Mojtaba,” who was killed along his family last night in Arak, centeral Iran.

To execute this sweeping operation, Iranian forces utilized a formidable arsenal of highly accurate, pinpoint-striking, and super-heavy weaponry.

This included the Khorramshahr missile equipped with a 2-ton warhead, the multi-warhead Ghadr, and the advanced Fattah and Kheibar Shekan missiles. Medium-range systems such as the Fateh and Qiam, alongside a swarm of destructive suicide drones, were also deployed.

The sophisticated assault targeted a wide array of strategic locations across the northern and central parts of the occupied territories, including Nahariya, Beit Shemesh, Tel Aviv, and West Quds.

Furthermore, the strikes heavily pounded the regional positions of the terrorist US army, directly hitting American bases in Victoria, Ali Al Salem, and Al Kharj, as well as the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

The sheer scale of the 58th wave triggered widespread panic across the occupied lands.

Warning sirens blared continuously in Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Bat Yam, and 136 other locations across the occupied territories.

According to demographic estimates, the massive Iranian missile barrage forced approximately 4,330,000 occupiers to rush to bomb shelters.

This fierce military retaliation falls strictly within the framework of the Iranian Armed Forces’ legitimate response to a large-scale and unprovoked war launched by Washington and Tel Aviv.

The deadly US-Israeli campaign began on February 28 with the cowardly assassination of the former Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, alongside several high-ranking military commanders.

That unprovoked aggression was launched despite ongoing, indirect negotiations between Tehran and Washington regarding Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

Since the outbreak of the war, US and Israeli forces have carried out extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian installations across Iran, resulting in significant casualties—including the massacred schoolchildren in Minab.

In response to these ongoing atrocities, Iran has maintained a relentless campaign of massive missile and drone attacks, firmly targeting US interests in the region and Israeli positions throughout the occupied territories.

Source: Press TV

17, March 2026

Cameroon’s National Assembly: Cavaye Djibril to be replaced ⁰

Members of Cameroon’s national assembly are currently meeting in Yaoundé and a key item on the agenda is the replacement of the current speaker, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, whose health has been facing serious challenges.

According to our Yaoundé bureau chief, Rita Akana, who spoke to a senior CPDM Member of Parliament, Mr. Cavaye will be replaced by Hon. Datouo Theodore, a CPDM Parliamentarian and a successful businessman from the West Region.

Mr. Cavaye’s health has been failing for many years now and his erratic behavior and massive alcoholic consumption have made him an expensive liability to the country and the party.

Born in Mada, located in the Tokombéré district of Mayo-Sava Division in the Far North Region, Cavayé (86) is a member of the Mada ethnic group

He was elected to the National Assembly of Cameroon in 1973 and obtained the position of Questor in the Bureau of the National Assembly. In 1975, he was included in the Central Committee of the Cameroon National Union (CNU) ruling party.

After ten years in the National Assembly, Cavayé was elected as its Second Vice-President in 1983. In 1985, when President Paul Biya transformed the CNU into the CPDM, Cavayé was retained as a member of the CPDM Central Committee. He served as Second Vice-President of the National Assembly for five years, departing the legislature at the end of the parliamentary term in 1988 and instead becoming Prefectoral Assistant of Diamaré. He returned to the National Assembly in the March 1992 parliamentary election and was then elected as President of the National Assembly.

More will be yours soon.

17, March 2026

Biya regime halts land sales around Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé ⁰

Cameroon’s presidency has ordered an immediate halt to land allocations around the Olembe sports complex in the northern outskirts of Yaoundé.

In a letter dated March 9, the secretary-general of the presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, instructed the minister of state property, surveys and land affairs to revoke all acts granting or transferring plots to private individuals within the perimeter of the Olembe sports complex.

The order follows what the document described as “high instructions” from President Paul Biya, directing the government to cancel all decisions related to the allocation or retrocession of land belonging to the complex.

The decision concerns an area that has experienced rapid demographic and real estate growth over the past decade. The expansion was driven largely by the construction of the Olembe sports complex—whose centerpiece is a 60,000-seat stadium—as well as the development of a nearby public housing estate.

Originally, the state secured about 110 hectares of land for the project as part of preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. Beyond the stadium, the complex was expected to include several complementary facilities, including training grounds, a five-star hotel, a shopping center, a museum, a cinema, and an Olympic swimming pool.

However, construction delays disrupted the original development plan. Many of the additional facilities were never built, leaving large sections of land exposed to competing claims, informal occupation, and land speculation, amid tensions with local communities.

By suspending land allocations and transfers, the government is seeking to regain control of these land reserves. The objective is to secure the site, reduce the risk of land disputes, and preserve the possibility of reviving the broader development project in the future.

Source: Business in Cameroon

16, March 2026

Bishop Nkuo says government must protect young Cameroonians from traffickers ⁰

A bishop in Cameroon’s war-torn North West region petitioned the government to act on the alarming number of Cameroonians trapped in human trafficking camps in Nigeria.

Bishop George Nkuo of Kumbo said the Justice and Peace Commission of his diocese has confirmed that over 3,000 Cameroonians are trapped in nine traffickers’ camps in Nigeria.

Speaking to The Tablet shortly after handing over a confidential petition to authorities and consular services in Yaoundé, he said further indicators suggest there could be as many as 40 camps affecting over 7,000 Cameroonians.

Like many parts of Cameroon’s English-speaking North West and South West regions, the Diocese of Kumbo has become accustomed to the phenomenon of human trafficking, but the separatist war afflicting both regions has caused an alarming escalation.

“The most critical factor is the closure of government schools. In Bui Division [the administrative area that covers parts of the diocese] alone, 42,000 children were attending government schools. Now, all those schools are closed. These children have nowhere to go – they are left idle and helpless,” Bishop Nkuo said.

“Traffickers are taking direct advantage of this vulnerability. With children out of school and families struggling, people are luring them away with false promises. They tell the children they will provide them with jobs, an education or a ‘better life’ in a ‘greener pasture’. For a child with no school and no prospects, these offers are dangerously appealing. The situation is spiraling out of control.”

He continued: “Our youth should be in classrooms and not in camps. They should be on farms and in industries, not in bondage. They should be in seminaries, workshops and families, not on exploitation expeditions.”

“The promises made to them are entirely false,” said Isidore Njodzeven, deputy head of the diocese’s Justice and Peace Commission.

“They cannot return home because their documents are taken away upon arrival. They can only make calls at designated times, while those monitoring them create a false sense of normalcy.”

Bishop Nkuo said he has written to the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, drawing their attention to the trafficking crisis: “We believe they are committed to resolving it.”

He said a more sustainable solution depended not just on bringing an end to the separatist crisis, but also creating the conditions for young people to thrive in Cameroon.

Source: The Tablet

16, March 2026

Ambazonia commander killed in Bafut ⁰

Two separatist fighters, including a commander, were killed when Cameroonian government forces struck their hideout in the country’s war-torn Anglophone Northwest region, local and security sources said on Sunday.

The operation, as confirmed by a military official in the region who requested not to be named, was launched late Saturday in Bafut, a locality in the region.

A key separatist commander who called himself “General Jakaban” was killed in the operation.

“The separatist terrorist general was a coward who attacked civilians and kidnapped them for ransom. He has terrorized people in Bafut for years, killing civilians and soldiers,” the official said.

Cameroon’s army has deployed additional troops to the region, which is expected to welcome the pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, Leo XIV, next month.

Fighting between government forces and separatist fighters has persisted in Cameroon’s two English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions since 2017, when separatists attempted to establish an independent nation in these regions.

Source: Xinhuanet

15, March 2026

Epstein team remnants plotting 9/11-like attack to blame on Tehran ⁰

Iran’s security chief has warned of plots to stage a false flag attack similar to the September 11 attacks and blame it on Iran, saying while the Islamic Republic is firmly punishing the aggressors, it fundamentally opposes such terrorist attacks.

“I’ve heard that the remaining members of Epstein’s network have devised a conspiracy to create an incident similar to 9/11 and blame Iran for it,” Ali Larijani, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, wrote in a post on his X account on Sunday.

He made clear that Iran fundamentally opposes such terrorist schemes and has no war with the American people.

According to Larijani, Iran is currently defending itself against the aggression of the United States and Israel. “Of course, in this defense it is acting very strongly and resolutely in order to punish the aggressors,” he added.

The remarks came after the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) roundly dismissed any connection to a series of drone strikes targeting positions in the Saudi capital Riyadh and the energy-rich Eastern Province, urging Saudi authorities to fully investigate their origin.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also clarified that the Iranian Armed Forces “only American bases and interests in the region.”

In an interview with Al-Arabi Al-Jadid, Araghchi speculated that the Israeli regime may have targeted non-military areas in neighboring Arab countries to destroy their relations with Iran.

Source: Presstv

15, March 2026

Ambazonia Interim Gov’t reacts to Pope Leo’s visit ⁰

The Visit of His Holiness the Pope to French Cameroun and Ambazonia

The people of the former British Southern Cameroons, now known as Ambazonia, take note of the visit of His Holiness, the Pope, to French Cameroun and Ambazonia in April this year, at a time when our land has endured nine years of a devastating and unresolved war of genocide.

As Head of the Roman Catholic Church, Sovereign of the Vatican City, and a global moral voice for peace and justice, the Pope carries not only spiritual authority but also a profound responsibility to stand with the oppressed, the suffering, and the voiceless.

Ambazonia holds the Church in deep respect. In our towns and villages, Catholic parishes have long been pillars of faith, education, healthcare, and community life. In times of fear and displacement, some Church leaders have kept the moral value of the church by speaking truth to power and the Church has often been a place of refuge. For this, we remain grateful.

We therefore call upon Roman Catholic faithful across Ambazonia to come out in large numbers to welcome the Holy Father warmly and peacefully. Let them receive him with dignity, and let them tell him their story firsthand. The widows, the orphans, the displaced, the imprisoned, and the silenced must have their voices heard. The Church must keep its moral standard and remain steadfast in truth.

For nine years, Ambazonia has witnessed a war of genocide ongoing, grave human rights violations, destruction of communities, displacement of civilians, and the imprisonment of political leaders and activists. Among those detained are the Nera-10 and many other political prisoners held in the prisons of French Cameroun. Amid this tragedy, the Catholic Church stands as one of the few moral institutions that has courageously attempted to chart a peaceful path toward justice and dialogue.

As far back as 2017, the Bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province proposed a clear and constructive roadmap aimed at ending the escalating violence and opening a pathway for genuine negotiations between the government of French Cameroon and the people of Southern Cameroons (Ambazonia). Their proposal called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, sincere dialogue, and the addressing of the root causes of the crisis. Tragically, this well-intentioned and morally grounded initiative was ignored by the French Cameroun government.

Recognizing the urgency of the situation and the deepening humanitarian catastrophe, the late Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, a revered servant of God and respected national figure, took an even more courageous step. Determined to ensure that the voice of the people would be heard, Cardinal Tumi spearheaded a broad consultation among the people of Southern Cameroons to determine what they believed to be the most just and permanent solution to the conflict.

Despite numerous obstacles placed in the way of organizing the Anglophone General Conference by the French Cameroun Government, Cardinal Tumi and other religious leaders proceeded to conduct a wide consultation and survey among Ambazonians at home and in the diaspora. The results were clear and unmistakable: the overwhelming majority of respondents expressed their desire for complete independence as the only viable path to lasting peace, dignity, and justice.

This consultation represented one of the most credible and transparent attempts to democratically capture the aspirations of the people during the ongoing conflict. It was an effort grounded in moral authority, consultation, and peaceful resolution rather than violence. Unfortunately, these findings, like the earlier proposals of the Bishops, were largely ignored by the authorities of French Cameroun.

Today, as the war continues to claim innocent lives and devastate communities, it is important to remember that peaceful pathways were offered. The Church provided a moral compass and created opportunities for negotiations. The people themselves expressed their aspirations through consultation. The tragedy of this war of genocide is not only the violence we witness on a daily basis, but also the missed opportunities for peace that could have prevented years of bloodshed. Peace cannot be built on silence or denial. It must be built on truth, justice, and the freely expressed will of the people.

As Ambassador for Peace, the Pope speaks truth to power. We plead with him to address openly the realities of the war in Ambazonia and to call unequivocally for:

1. An immediate cessation of hostilities;

2. The release of the Nera-10 and all political prisoners;

3. Protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law;

4. A genuine, inclusive, and internationally mediated dialogue aimed at a negotiated settlement of the conflict.

The Holy See has historically played important roles in mediation and reconciliation across the world. We believe the Vatican can once again offer its high office as neutral ground for negotiations. We therefore call upon the Holy See to recognize the efforts that were made and to support renewed, credible, and inclusive negotiations that respect the clearly expressed will and dignity of the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia.

Ambazonia stands ready and willing to meet with the Pope at the Vatican in Rome and to engage sincerely in any initiative undertaken by the Vatican to bring about peace, justice, and a sustainable political solution. Our people desire not perpetual conflict, but dignity, security, and the right to determine their future through peaceful means.

This visit can not be ceremonial alone. It must be prophetic. It must be courageous. It must reflect the moral clarity that the world expects from the Chair of Saint Peter.

May truth guide this moment.May justice anchor it.And may peace finally take root in our land.

Dabney Yerima

Vice President the Federal Republic of Ambazonia

14, March 2026

Catholic Men in Cameroon express excitement about envisioned Pope’s visit ⁰

The National President of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) in Cameroon has pledged that members of the association will be “present in every activity” of the April 15–18 planned visit of Pope Leo XIV to the central African country.

In a Thursday, March 12 interview with ACI Africa, Okie Johnson Ndoh said the confirmation of the Pope’s visit has been received with excitement among Catholic men in Cameroon and other members of the group living in the diaspora.

“We received this news with total joy, excitement, and fulfilment. At last, the rumour is confirmed. The Pope is coming,” Mr. Ndoh told ACI Africa.

He added, “The CMA is totally mobilised. We are engaged in every activity, being the fathers of the Church, in our role to assist the Church, the Bishops, the Priests, especially as the Pope comes.”

Mr. Ndoh emphasized that the association is ready to support the Church during the papal visit, noting that Catholic men see themselves as pillars of the Church and leaders within their families and communities.

“Our mobilisation will be total, we will be present in every activity, in every event that the Pope has,” he said.

The Catholic official continued, “CMA will be very present at every single event of the Pope and in every activity that the Church thinks necessary to involve the CMA.”

The CMA President who is also serving as the general coordinator of the papal visit in Cameroon, described his task as a moment of pride for the association.

“I call on all CMA members, wherever you are, to mobilize, and to be behind the Church in every activity that is going on. Be it in Yaoundé, be it in Bamenda, be it in Douala. All of us must be present and show our leading role,” he said.

Mr. Ndoh encouraged Catholic men across Cameroon and abroad to take part in welcoming the Pope, describing the moment as an opportunity to demonstrate humility, service, and commitment to the Church.

He emphasized that the Pope’s visit comes at a time when Cameroon continues to face social and political challenges, and urged Catholics to receive the Pope’s message of peace and reconciliation.

“You know the Pope is coming with a message of peace. He is coming as a messenger of peace,” he said, and added, “All of us must therefore put our hands together to pray in total commitment that this message of peace, love, reconciliation, and forgiveness be received by all.”

Mr. Ndoh noted that members of the association have been praying for peace in Cameroon since 2019, an d expressed optimism that the papal visit would be the height of prayers for peace in the country.

Calling on Catholic men to deepen their prayer life, he added that the papal visit should inspire Cameroonians to forgive one another and rebuild unity.

Meanwhile, preparations are also underway to ensure that the liturgical celebrations during the papal visit reflect both the universal traditions of the Church and the cultural richness of Cameroon.

Fr. Antoine Essomba Fouda, a member of the national liturgical preparation team, told ACI Africa that papal liturgies follow specific canons.

“The papal liturgy obeys the canons of simplicity, sobriety, and solemnity,” Fr. Fouda said, and added, “For the requirements of inculturation, the Church in Cameroon will ensure that this liturgy is inculturated in its gestures, sacred songs, and responses.”

According to the Catholic Priest, choirs and cultural expressions will play a significant role in the celebrations across the three cities that will host the Pope.

He told ACI Africa that in Douala there will be a choir of about 600 people, in Bamenda about 400, and another choir of no less than 200 or 300 people dressed in traditional costumes.

Fr. Fouda emphasized that while the celebrations will highlight Cameroon’s cultural richness, the focus will remain on prayer and worship.

“This liturgy will be festive but at the same time prayerful,” he said, adding that the papal visit in Cameroon should remain “a moment of prayer, elevation and praise to the Lord.”

He also revealed that the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) entrusted him with coordinating preparations with the Vatican’s Office of Liturgical Celebrations.

“The National Episcopal Conference has put me on a mission to meet the Master of the Liturgical Celebrations of the Holy Father, Monsignor Ravelli, so that we can prepare this liturgy,” he said.

Fr. Fouda invited Catholics from across the country to participate in the liturgical celebrations planned in Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala.

“I invite all Christians from Cameroon, wherever they are, to come and participate in these liturgical celebrations… for the greatest glory of God and our own sanctification,” he said.

Source: ACI Africa

14, March 2026

Iran says attacks on its islands were launched from UAE, vows to respond ⁰

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says US attacks on two Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf that took place overnight on Saturday originated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and he warns that Iran will definitely respond.

Araghchi said on Saturday that the US military used populated areas in the UAE to fire on Kharg, an island that houses Iran’s oil‑export terminals, and on Abu Musa, a strategic island at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz.

“Last night they attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island with the artillery‑rocket system HIMARS, which is a short‑range rocket system,” he said.

“They launched these rockets from the soil of our neighbors. It is crystal clear they are using our neighbors’ territory to attack us, and this is absolutely unacceptable.”

The minister said Iranian military forces tracked the attacks, which he said came from Ras Al Khaimah and a location very close to Dubai.

Araghchi added that firing from densely populated areas is a very dangerous practice, and while Iran will definitely respond, it will exercise utmost caution to avoid striking residential buildings.

“What we are doing within the framework of legitimate defense is targeting American bases, facilities, assets and interests, which unfortunately are located in the territories of our neighbors,” he said.

The attacks on Kharg and Abu Musa did not hit Iranian energy facilities but caused losses at military sites on the two islands.

Iran has previously responded to similar attacks and warned that if oil or electricity production facilities are targeted, it will launch massive strikes on all energy facilities in Persian Gulf countries where the United States has interests.

Source: Press TV